“Tim asked me to get that for you.” She pointed at the gift card. “He says he wants you to improve so he can kick your ass and actually feel good about it.”
I chuckled as I held up the racket and the ferry tickets. “These I understand. But the medical tape?”
She arched an eyebrow. “So you can tape your knuckles the next time you fight somebody.”
I laughed, then pulled her to me again. “I promise I won’t fight anybody else. Except Tyler Dermody if he so much as looks at me cross-eyed. Or maybe Dean Smith, if he checks you out again.” I kissed the top of her head again. “Just kidding. I would never do that.”
She sighed as she buried her face in my chest. “I know. You’re a nice guy.” She squeezed me. “But it’s sort of hot of you to say it, anyway.”
We laughed and she snuggled closer. After a minute she said, “Um, Bob?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think you could maybe take a shower before we go to dinner? You’re kind of sweaty.” She pulled back, laughing, and I nodded.
“Anything for you, babe.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
BOB
We shared chicken picatta, lobster fra diavolo, and an amazing black pasta with puttanesca sauce at a tiny hole-in-the-wall of a restaurant in the North End. We drank red wine from plastic cups and held hands across the table.
It was the best dinner of my life.
“Mmm, this is amazing.” Madison finished the pasta and moaned. “I don’t know it I have room for dessert.”
“We could go out for dessert tomorrow night,” I suggested. “And then we can go out to dinner again the night after that. Or appetizers. Or drinks. Or whatever you want.”
She laughed. “So we’re going out every night?”
I shrugged. “Unless you want to order in. I could learn to cook.”
Maddy laughed. “I can’t learn to cook. I tried. I set off every smoke alarm in our house, and as you know, it’s a pretty big house.”
I put my hand over hers. “We can just order a pizza.”
“Not tonight, though.” She gestured at our empty plates.
“No, I meant the night after the night after that. I meant any night you want. I meant every night.”
She giggled “We’re having pizza every night?”
“We’re having whatever you want, babe. And yes, I mean every night.” I paid the check and we walked out onto the street, our arms wrapped around each other. “Will you come home with me?” I asked, suddenly feeling nervous.
“Well, I was about to ask you the same thing.” She bit her lip, and under the glow from the streetlamps, I could see her cheeks turning red. “Do you want to…er…”
“Yes,” I said immediately, and she laughed.
“Do you want to stop by your place first? So you can get…” She took a deep breath. “A toothbrush and some clothes for tomorrow?” The words came out all in a rush. She bit her lip again.
“Are you crazy?”
She looked miserable. “No, um, if that’s moving too fast—”
“Maddy.” I stopped and stood in front of her, holding her hands in mine. “A toothbrush and some clothes are nothing. I’m ready for you to pack up your whole house and move it into mine. I wasn’t kidding about having dinner together every night from now to infinity and beyond. Roberto Palmieri is all in. My toothbrush is your toothbrush. All my toothbrushes are yours.”
“Yeah?” She wrinkled her nose.